UNLV's new football stadium will have a 100-yard video screen

UNLV has plans for a new, $800 million stadium with a 100-yard video screen, which would dwarf the screen at Cowboys Stadium.(Photo: UNLV)

It has been said that Sam Boyd Stadium, the current home of UNLV football, is the only place in Las Vegas where the house always loses.

How does UNLV plan to change its weak home-field advantage? According to early blueprints, by building a stadium with such amenities to make Jerry Jones weak with envy.

Paul Takahashi of the Las Vegas Sun has some details on the project the university and developers are calling "UNLV Now," an $800 million stadium it hopes will serve as the centerpiece of the football program while also housing several non-football-related events every year.

The stadium will seat 60,000 fans, have six 300-seat VIP suites, two clubs and – wait for it – a 100-yard video screen. That's 40 yards longer than the screen at Cowboys Stadium. And yes, a football field is 100 yards long.

The video screen will provide the "world's largest multimedia immersive experience," according to developers.

Takahashi quotes Craig Cavileer, a project representative: "When Vegas puts on a show, people expect something amazing. People are going to expect an over-the-top facility. (The stadium) should be phenomenal and iconic."

A rendering of what the 100-yard video screen will look like in action.(Photo: UNLV)

It will be a "three-way partnership" between UNLV, Majestic Realty (the school's private partner) and the city's hospitality industry, writes Takahashi. In other words, "hospitality industry" means the many casinos and hotels in Vegas.

While the reported price tag seems high, the city believes this sort of major venue would pay for itself in a matter of years. Per Takahashi:

"A study by the University of Michigan's Center for Sport Management determined that with 15 events annually, a mega-events center would produce a total of $393.2 million in new direct spending for Las Vegas' hospitality sector."

One thing the stadium doesn't guarantee is a winning football team, something UNLV hasn't seen since only once since 1995. The Rebels are 24-84 since the start of the 2004 season. That's about one victory for every four yards of the new video board.